Plans, the unexpected and the Spirit!

It is sensible to plan ahead and prepare for what is going to happen. Except that the unexpected comes along and sometimes completely destroys the plans. So when we make our plans we always need to allow room for the Holy Spirit both to work with us and sometimes to change the way we are going. That’s how June feels this year. The new Coalition Government is throwing plans for Vetting and Barring into the air, the cuts to the government budget will be announced soon and that will drastically alter many people’s plans, including livelihoods. We need to be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to the Church and to the world.  General Assembly will be held in Loughborough from 2^nd to 5^th July and plans are well underway for the many aspects of our gathering, including stewards from our own synod who will be welcoming and helping visitors from all over the United Reformed Church. We pray that there is room for the Holy Spirit to work with and through us. Please pray for Kirsty and Val, incoming Moderators, Roberta and Richard the General Secretaries and all those involved in making Assembly a Spirit filled meeting.   Terry Oakley 

People

East Midlands Synod welcomes two retired ministers that have recently moved into the area.  Revd Vernon (Broomfield) Payne moved from the Mersey Synod to live in Irchester, Northamptonshire.  Revd Geoffrey Townsend has also retired into the Northamptonshire area from North Western Synod.  Both Vernon and Geoffrey’s contact details appear in the Year Book section on page 4.

Please pray for Revd Brian Russell, retired minister in Leicestershire, who recently suffered a heart attack and for Mr David Tompsett who is due to undergo major surgery next week.

We are sorry to report that Sylvia Paine, the PA to the Pilots Desk in Church House, was badly injured in a serious car accident last Bank Holiday Monday.  Her injuries are not thought to be life threatening, but she has undergone several operations and her recovery is expected to be slow.  Please pray for Sylvia and her family.

A reminder that the Induction of the Revd Ray Sowersby to Melton Mowbray with Freeby United Reformed Church will be held this Saturday, 19^th June at 3pm, and the Ordination and Induction of Helen Carr to Kettering, Toller & Desborough Group will be taking place on Sunday 20^th June at 3.30pm.All are welcome. 

CANCELLATION OF VETTING AND BARRING COURSES - JUNE 2010

We were sorry to have to cancel the Vetting and Barring Courses at the last minute.  Please see the Statement below from the Independent Safeguarding Authority's website:“In its recent document ‘The Coalition: Our programme for government’, the Government set out its aim to ‘review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels’.In order to deliver this promise and carry out the remodelling, the Vetting and Barring Scheme will be halted. The first phase of registration was due to commence on 26 July 2010. Although the Scheme is halted whilst the Government undertakes its review, new safeguarding regulations introduced in October 2009 continue to apply. These include: ·       A person who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults will be breaking the law if they work or volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with those groups. ·       An organisation which knowingly employs someone who is barred to work with those groups will also be breaking the law. ·       If your organisation works with children or vulnerable adults and you dismiss a member of staff or a volunteer because they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult, or you would have done so if they had not left, you must tell the Independent Safeguarding Authority.”For the Statement from the Home Office please visit: www.urc5.org.uk/?q=homeofficevetbarr

June Synod – Prayer4Life

It was disappointing that the Prayer 4life event on 12th June had to be cancelled and I would like to thank all those who had shown interest by forwarding booking forms or who had agreed to help by running a workshop. You will, I hope, recall that we sent to each church, via your church secretary, a black square of cloth which we asked you to decorate and bring with you on the 12th. Although that event was cancelled, we would still like you to decorate your square and forward it to Synod Office by Thursday 7th October.  We will then put them together to form a banner which we can display at Synod on 6th November.

Thank you, Sally Gibbs 

News

Commission warns of bogus telephone calls

The Charity Commission has been made aware of a scam involving people being telephoned by individuals claiming to represent the Charity Commission. In the phone calls these individuals claim to be from the "debt collection department" of the Commission and they demand payments for various services and advertisements.  It is important to be clear that:

·       Any call from someone claiming to work with or on behalf of the Charity Commission, and claiming any payment in a threatening way, is clearly bogus;

·       The Charity Commission does not charge for any of its services to charities; it does not get involved in debt collection either directly or through contracting third parties to do so, and nor does it collect debt on behalf of charities;

·       You should immediately report these sorts of incidents to the police, and the Charity Commission would also like to be informed where its name is being used for suspected fraudulent purposes.

The best way to contact us is by email following this link: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/sendmailCRM.aspx  or if you need to speak to someone urgently you can call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218. Lines are open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, except national holidays. 

 Northants

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF MISSIONARY ENDEAVOUR

All are welcome to a service looking back over 100 years, offering personal testimony

Providing an opportunity for YOU to invite prayers for how you, your church, or someone your church supports is involved in Mission.  Looking to the future and challenging us all to be involved in the sharing of the Gospel.

On Sunday 27^th June at 6.00pm at ALL NATIONS CHURCH, NORTHAMPTON

On the Island at the junction of Kettering Road and Wellingborough Road near Abington Square (for map visit: www.all-nations-fellowship.com

Light refreshments will be available after the service 

Derby

NEWS FROM MARLPOOL URC

Marlpool URC held their children’s Day service on Sunday 13^th June. This service has replaced the old Anniversary Day service which used to attract full congregations at three services in the ‘old days’. We decided this year to use the history of the church from its days as an Independent Church in 1820. We even found our old Church banner! Groups of children from Junior Church, our Children’s drama group and the Brownies and Guides who use the premises, learned poems and songs, wrote their own prayers and even made a DVD of the beginnings of the Church. One old scholar gave us a rendering of a poem he had learned when he was a youngster and delivered it in the same way as he had done then! More than 30 youngsters led the service watched by a congregation of over 100. A mock up in cardboard of the old ‘platform’ was presented, as the history of our Church in its 6 year old building unfolded. There was more information in a display of photos and newspaper clippings.  Inclement weather meant that a picnic and games in the local park changed into a picnic and rounders on the memorial garden next to the church so that we could run inside if necessary. My 95 year old mum thoroughly enjoyed herself as did the adults and children present.For more information about our history visit www.marlpoolurc.com

 NEWS FROM CENTRAL URC

We are running a 6 week pilot project, on Wednesdays from 21st July, for a new activity we are contemplating at Central URC.  It is called the 3F's Project - standing for "Fitness, Fellowship and Fun". The 3F's project is aiming at the elderly and those with mobility problems.  The idea is they will come to Central.  If we are able we will be helping with transport wherever it is needed.  There will be an opportunity for the people to meet others and chat and they will be given a short session of very simple, gentle sitting exercises, (the length and type geared to the needs of the individuals attending).  They will then be given a light lunch before returning home.  We have acquired the services of a qualified and experienced physical exercise trainer for this pilot project.The idea is to contact those who are becoming isolated in their homes because of their mobility difficulties and to provide them with some physical and mental stimulation. 

 We would very much like to get other organisations, such as Age Concern, the Pensioners' Association, Live at Home, and other such bodies, interested so they can be in attendance to provide contact, support and advice as required.  One thing we need help with is identifying and contacting the individuals who may benefit from this service.    Gwen Johnson – Central URC, Derby

 Milton Keynes

THE HOURS – CONCERT AT CHRIST THE CORNERSTONE – 19TH JUNE

The Hours is not just a concert; it is a musical project which involves a whole community in a unique and engaging way. The Hours is a 'sound installation' lasting 24 hours, which combines pre-recorded and live elements, with contributions from 100 people recorded in over 20 languages, local school children, amateur singers from different ethnic groups, alongside the professional singers of The Clerks. Pre-recorded 'panels' for the installation have been recorded by school-children in Buckingham and Stantonbury Campus schools, as well as schools in Cambridge and the London borough of Tower Hamlets, and will form an integral part of the overall programme. Singers from the choir of Christ the Cornerstone and other local choirs will also be taking part, and the whole performance will culminate in a live performance by The Clerks. The Hours sound installation will begin at 9.00 pm on Friday 18 June with a celebration of Compline, and culminate in a live performance by The Clerks from 7.00 pm on Saturday 19 June.

For more information please visit www.theclerks.co.uk or alternatively contact Samantha Wickham on 07867 778326. Tickets are £15 each/£10 concessions. We would be delighted if you could attend the concert and support this worthwhile project.  

Lincolnshire

STAMFORD URC - Gildenburgh Choir

A reminder that the Gildenburgh Choir from Peterborough will be giving a concert at Stamford URC at 7.30pm on Saturday 26^th June.  As is our usual custom, which seems to work very well, we don’t charge admission, but ask for donations as the audience leave.  This time, the proceeds will be given to the Willoughby School in Bourne; this is a school for children with learning needs.  One of our elders has an autistic grandson who has been at the school for most of his life – he is now 19 and leaving this year.  To the great joy of his Grandmother, he is head boy this year.  She is a member of the Gildenburgh Choir and asked them if they would do this concert. 

Nottingham

Messy Fiesta Training Day

Saturday 17 July 2010 10.00am to 3.00pm at St John’s College Nottingham

Speaker: Lucy Moore.  A Messy Fiesta training day. Find out what is being learned from the experience of leading Messy Church in a variety of difference contexts (rural/urban/large/small etc) and what this may be saying to the Church.  For church leaders, youth workers or children’s workers considering running Messy Church events, or Messy Church leaders considering the next steps

Price: £15 including lunch (payment in advance by cheque or card please)

Enquiries: Helen Taylor 0115 968 3221 or email: h [dot] taylor [at] stjohns-nottm [dot] ac [dot] uk  or see http://www.messychurch.org.uk/ 

VISION DAY

A multimedia day full of opportunities to reimagine church, dream dreams, ask questions, share your story, discover resources and build relationships.  Saturday 9th October 2010 from 10am-4pm

Speakers: Tim Lea, Roger Johnson, Joanna Dobson and Michael Mitton.

Cost: £10 including lunch and refreshments.

Venue: Nuthall Methodist Church, Nuthall, Nottingham, NG16 1DN

For more information or to book places, please contact: Catriona Gundlach catriona [at] southwell [dot] anglican [dot] org01636 817232

 Elsewhere 

Enquirer's Conference - Vocations Fair saturday 10^th july 2010

This is too good an opportunity to miss.

Wessex Synod are running another of their Vocations Fairs. 80 people attended a couple of years ago. If you or someone in your church would like to explore ∙ Eldership∙ Pastoral care∙ Youth and children’s work∙ Leading worship∙ Lay preaching∙ Evangelism∙ Training for Learning and Serving (TLS)∙ Church-Related Community Work∙ Ministry of Word and Sacraments - Stipendiary, Non-stipendiary or service overseas, please e-mail paulmbedford [at] btopenworld [dot] com for a flier and application form. Deadline 2^nd July 

Churches & Inter-Faith Peace Work of Uniting for Peace

Calls upon local churches – ecumenical groups – inter-faith bodies to celebrate SEPTEMBER 2010 Peace Days:

·       Sept 19/20  Services & Vigils for UN & World Peace

·       Sept 21        Events for United Nations International Peace Day

Hold an event….service….vigil….forum….in your areaEach church secretary has received a copy of the leaflet with booking form.  To support the Peace Days please return the form to Peace Services, WDC, PO Box 28209, Edinburgh, EH9 1ZR.  For more copies please contact: Revd Brian Cooper on Tel: 0131 446 9545 or Email: briancooper [at] googlemail [dot] com 

 Year Book Changes 

·       There is a new church secretary at Rose Hill United Reformed Church: Mrs Susan Hunt, ** available from Synod Office**

·       There is also a new church treasurer at Rose Hill: Mr Jeff Bargh, Rose Hill URC, 22 Soresby Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1JN. Tel: 01246 204697

·       There is a new church secretary at St. Mary Magdalene, Milton Keynes: Mr Sean Miles, **available from Synod Office**

·       Revd Vernon (Broomfield) Payne, retired minister in Northamptonshire: **available from Synod office**

·       Revd Geoffrey Townsend, retired minister in Northamptonshire: **availlable from Synod Office**

 AND FINALLY: -  

 Please send any comments or feedback on this e-letter to mod [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk 

The URC East Midlands Synod, 1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 3AA.Telephone: 0115 960 9241.  Facsimile: 0115 960 9202 

Email address for E-Letter Editor: editor [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk

Copy Date for Next E-Letter: Monday 28^th June 2010 

Please forward this e-letter to members of your congregation or anyone who would like to receive it.